Titles And Orders Of Merit

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TITLES AND ORDERS OF MERIT

Instituted at Court by Maharaja Ranjit Singh the awards broadly followed the pattern of Mughal awards and titles, although in the Sikh nobility there was no specific classifications of hierarchy as seen in the mansabdan system of the Mughals.

Royal Titles

Titles and awards were granted to princes of the royal blood, principal sardars and high officials of the State, and they carried with them privileges as well as jagirs. The Maharaja also rewarded his favourites and men of proven loyalty to him and his family. The highest title seems to have been Rajai Rajgan held only by one person in the history of Sikh rule, Dhian Singh Dogra who was also titled Raja Kalan. He had, even, the privilege of holding his own miniature darbar. Next was the title of Raja, which was held among others by Dhian Singh's brothers, Gulab Singh and his son, Hira Singh, the Maharaja's favourite.

  • Gulab Singh was awarded the title of Raja of Jammu in 1822, with jagirs amounting to over 7,00,000 rupees annually. He was the most highly favoured vassal and tributary of the Maharaja. He was required to maintain a special body of horse and foot for his sovereign.
  • Suchet Singh was the Raja of Ramnagar, with a jagir worth 3,00,000 rupees per annum and command of the Charyari Sowars.
  • Hira Singh received the title of Raja with a jagir of the value of well over 5,00,000 rupees :annually, with the exceptional privilege of a seat in the Darbar.

Military Medals and Honors

Military titles generally referred to qualities of bravery and courage. Some of these were:

  • Hizbari Jang (lion in battle)
  • Zafar Jarig (victorious in war)
  • Dilawar Jang (gallant in war)
  • Safdar Jang (valiant in war)
  • Samsam udDaulah (sharpedged sword of the State)
  • Shuja'udDaulah (valour of the State)
  • I'timad udDaulah (support of the State)
  • Mubariz ulMulk (hero of the country)
  • Jarnaili Awwal (general of the first rank)

Civilian and Ecclesiastical Titles and Merits

Civil departments lauded honesty, sagacity and industry. For instance: Dayanat Panah (abode of honesty), Firasat Dastgah (manufactory of wisdom) and Mashakhkhat Panah (refuge of the distinguished). Ecclesiastical titles lauded the qualities of piety and nobility of life and conduct. One such title was Brahm Murat (picture of divinity).

Sardar

The title of Sardar, common to military and civil officers, was mainly reserved for Sikhs.

Prefixed to this title in official correspondence were complimentary expressions such as:

  • Bawaqar (of high prestige)
  • 'Azim ushShan (of high glory)
  • Ujjal Didar (of immaculate appearance)
  • Nirmal Buddh (of clear intelligence)

Among the notables who were the recipients of military and civil titles were Raja Dina Nath, Diwan Savan Mall, Sardar Atar Singh Sandhanvalia, Captain C.M.Wade, Diwan Jodha Ram, General Avitabile, Sardar Lahina Singh Majithia, Kanvar Sher Singh and Sardar Tej Singh.

Star of the Prosperity of the Punjab

Maharaja Ranjit Singh instituted the, perhaps, most prestigious medal of the Punjab in 1837 on the occasion of the marriage of his grandson, Kanvar Nau Nihal Singh, called the KaukabiIqbaliPanjab (Star of the Prosperity of the Punjab). The medal, was the insignia of a new Knightly Order. Created at the suggestion of Sir Henry Fane, the British commander-in-chief, who attended the wedding as a guest, its shape resembled the French Legion de Honour instituted by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802. The first recipient of this title was Kanvar Nau Nihal Singh.

The medals bore the likeness of Ranjit Singh on the front and had gold and scarlet ribands. They were in the shape of a star and were designed to be worn around the neck. There were three grades:

  • The first grade medal was ornamented with one big diamond. Meant for members of the royal family it :was also awarded to chiefs who showed exceptional devotion to the Maharaja and his family.
  • The second grade medal, with a diamond and an emerald set in it, was bestowed on loyal courtiers and sardars.
  • The third grade medal contained a single emerald and was open to civil and military officers who had rendered :some special service to the State.

References

1. Sun, Sohan Lal, `Umdat ut-Twarikh. Lahore, 1885-89

2. Kohli, Sita Ram, Catalogue of the Khalsa Darbar Records. Lahore, 1919-27

3. Fane, H.E., Five Years in India. London, 1842

4. Ganda Singh, ed., Maharaja Ranjit Singh (First Death Centenary Memorial Volume). Arnritsar, 1939

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